Exploring the Visionary Directorship of Caitlin Graci at The Bare Bones Theater Ensemble
Sounds of “All That Jazz” and “Razzle Dazzle” are heard reverberating off the wood floor at the Federal Taphouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A rendition of Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb’s hit musical Chicago is being performed by a local Harrisburg theater group. The Bare Bones Theater Ensemble is a community theater company that prides itself on bringing the classics with its sense of originality, flair, and dedication to the craft. The Federal Taphouse of Harrisburg Pennsylvania is at the essence of the uniqueness of this multifaceted group of misfits. What separates Bare Bones from other theater groups you may see is with this ensemble, each performance is housed in a bar setting.
The Bare Bones Theater Ensemble in front of Federal Taphouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The Maestro of this theatrical concept is owner and founder Caitlin Graci. She started The Bare Bones Theater Ensemble a decade ago with the hopes of bringing her love of theater to her hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I’ve tried to make things super accessible. The tickets are only twenty dollars, and my thought process is it’s the same amount of money you would pay for a few drinks, so why not watch a show while your there?”, says Graci about the inception of her company.
At the heart of Bare Bones is the inclusion and calculated representation. The auditions are filled with aspiring actors and singers of all age ranges and types. The idea is that if you have a passion for theater and want to try your luck, Bare Bones is the place for you. The ensemble company doesn’t care if you’re a professional, it just wants an open mind, a good work ethic, and a willingness to push yourself out of your usual comfort zone. Graci isn’t in this business to get rich and ride off into the sunset into early retirement. She aims to create a safe space for people that love musical theater. “There's a lot of gatekeeping in the theater. A lot of people have a hard time handing new people productions. So, I try and mentor and empower people to take the productions we are allowed to perform and make them their own,” says Graci when speaking on the complexities of bringing theater to local communities.
Caitlin Graci directs her cast of Chicago at Federal Taphouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Community is the hallmark of local theater. The inhabitants of each town and their willingness to contribute are the pulse of its movement. The more people support local artists, the more powerful their presence can be, and more places like The Bare Bones Theater Ensemble can continue to influence the hearts and minds of anyone that has a dream to be on stage.
